Horror
We asked our staff, "What is your favorite horror books?"
Read below for their answers!
Plus, horror book recommendations from Beaufort County readers
Intensity
by Dean Koontz
Recommended by Kim Cappisillo,
Library Assistant
I couldn't put this book down. It was the first one I read by Koontz and started my love of reading.
Coraline
by Neil Gaiman
Recommended by Amanda Betz,
Library Assistant
Coraline is a chilling tale where a young girl enters a parallel world that seems perfect at first, but turns nightmarish when a sinister “Other Mother” tries to trap her forever.
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires
by Grady Hendrix
Recommended by Candy Van Tine,
Branch Manager
There isn't a genre called "Humorous Horror", but if there was, this book would be top of the bloody heap! A great story, with lots of laughs and creepiness.
The Eyes Are the Best Part
by Monika Kim
Recommended by Elayna Gladstone,
Teen Services Programmer
Equal parts horror and thriller, I finished this book by newcomer Monika Kim in one sitting! This book is perfect for both physical and Hoopla readers who love a grisly tale with an ultra-satisfying ending.
What Moves the Dead
by T. Kingfisher
Recommended by Collin Stiglbauer,
Information Services Librarian
A haunting take on the Fall of the House of Usher, and a very easy read at only 150 pages. Great if you've never tried a Kingfisher book before and are looking for a spooky twist on a classic story, and if you enjoy it, there are another two in the series!
The Black Girl Survives in This One
by Desiree S. Evans
Recommended by Leigh Ramey,
User Experience Librarian
This compilation of 15 original scary stories by various authors is perfect for teens and showcases Black girls as the heroes of the story, battling demons, ghosts, and monsters. Sure to bring chills!
Bless Your Heart
by Lindy Ryan
Recommended by Lyndsay Malphrus,
Bookmobile Library Specialist
It's 1999 in small town Texas when murders start happening and Luna learns about the family business, taking care of what goes bump in the night. Bonus: a sassy southern grandma! It's messy, a fun time, and the start of a series.
The Night Guest
by Hildur Knútsdóttir
Recommended by Emma Maines,
Information Services Librarian
An Icelandic woman who isn't sleeping well begins to suspect that something is taking over her body at night. Unfortunately, nobody in the waking hours believes her. A short but sinister read, not for the faint of heart!
Small Spaces
by Katherine Arden
I once heard Katherine Arden speak at an author event, where she explained the difference between writing horror for adults and young adults: you can’t rely on gore. You can’t just say someone was beheaded, you have to build fear through tension and suspense. That’s exactly what Arden achieves in her Small Spaces series. Best known as the author of The Bear and the Nightingale, Arden shows her impressive range with this young adult collection. The books read like modern fairy tales, dark and unsettling, more Brothers Grimm than Disney.
How to Sell a Haunted House
by Grady Hendrix
Recommended by Debbie Henderson,
Information Services Librarian
Grady Hendrix’s A Haunted House is a thrilling and eerie tale that blends supernatural terror with buried family history. Within its walls lurk unsettling secrets and creepy dolls that seem to move with a will of their own, pulling readers deeper into the chilling mystery of what the house hides. With his trademark mix of dark humor and bone-chilling suspense, Hendrix creates a horror story that’s as haunting as it is unforgettable. A truly great read for a Happy Halloween!
The Plague Stones
by James Brogden
Recommended by Cassandra Knoppel,
Library Specialist
A British family moves into a new home and discovers that their town is cursed by a centuries-old plague victim, and they're wrapped up in the middle of it. This book is gnarly - but I can't recommend it enough if you like ghosts, gore, and history. It's so good, I've listened to the audiobook twice!
The Turn of the Screw
by Henry James
Recommended by Sydney Whiteside,
Library Specialist
My all time favorite horror read is The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. It is a short, but spooky and suspenseful story that makes the reader seriously question reality. It was beautifully adapted into a limited series titled The Haunting of Bly Manor. 10/10 recommend!
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter
by Stephen Graham Jones
Recommended by Sarah Froese,
Bookmobile Library Assistant
This historical horror unfolds as Etsy dives into her family history through the rediscovered diary of her great-great-great-grandfather and his meetings with a Native American man named Good Stab. Over the course of the story, current and retold, it becomes clear that things are not what they seem on the surface.
Jones does a fantastic job weaving actual history into this fictional tale with a supernatural twist. The story is unflinching as it looks at the hard realities and legacy of the Marias Massacre, the near extinction of the buffalo, and westward expansion. At times graphic and intense, this is a story about grappling with the past, the present, and the thirst for revenge.
Tales of Edgar Allan Poe
by Barry Moser
Recommended by Olivia Perry,
Children's Programmer
A great compilation of Edgar Allen Poe's classic horror works. While not outright scary, it will a shiver up your spine.
City of Ghosts
by Victoria Schwab
Recommended by Alyssa Krob,
Digital Services Librarian
I'm not much of a horror genre reader, but I did enjoy reading The City of Ghosts series by Victoria Schwab. It's a middle grade title that follows a young girl named Cass, who had a near death experience and can now see ghosts. Now that she can see beyond the Veil, she discovers there's still so much that she doesn't know.
Horror books recommended by our community
